Laura Wolfhardt of South Africa plays a shot as Beth Mooney of Australia keeps during the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup match at Old Trafford on June 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo/Getty Images)
Australia began their 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 65-run win over South Africa at Old Trafford on Saturday, benefiting from a quick half-century from Phoebe Litchfield and a disciplined bowling display led by Georgia Wareham.After being asked to bat, Australia recovered from early wobble to score 172/8 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 107 in 16.4 overs, with captain Laura Wolfhardt top-scoring with 44 runs.
Australia’s innings got off to a rocky start when Georgia Fall was dismissed for a duck by Marizanne Kapp in the first over. Beth Mooney also struggled and fell for seven, leaving Australia under pressure.Then Litchfield changed the momentum. She hit a boundary off her first ball and attacked from the off, helping Australia to 52/2 at the end of the power play. The left-hander compiled her fifty in just 23 balls and eventually made 51 off 24 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.South Africa hit back when Ashley Gardner was dismissed for one, reducing Australia to 57/4. However, Georgia Wareham and Ellyse Perry added 58 runs for the fifth wicket to stabilize the innings.
Wareham made 32 off 22 balls with six boundaries before Nadine de Klerk ended the partnership.Perry anchored the later stages with 36 off 26 balls, while Annabel Sutherland scored 21 off 14 deliveries as Australia crossed the 170 mark.The South African bowlers shared the wickets. Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk took two wickets each, while skipper Laura Wolfardt shone in the field with three catches.Chasing 173, South Africa lost Sune Luus lbw to Sophie Molineux in the first over before Kim Garth bowled Annerie Derksen in the next over, leaving them 7/2.Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk rounded out the innings with a 41-run stand. De Klerk scored 25 before Wareham broke the partnership soon after the Powerplay.Marizanne Kapp counter-attacked briefly with 12, but a mix-up between the wickets ended her stay. Wolfhardt continued to hold at one end and reached 44 off 39 balls, but her dismissal against Wareham effectively ended South Africa’s hopes.Alana King then dismissed Sinalo Jafta and Kayla Reineke in quick succession, while Ashley Gardner dismissed Shabnim Ismail. Wareham ended the innings by dismissing Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba.Wareham finished with 3/13, while Molineux and King both took wickets as Australia completed a comfortable win and made a strong start to their campaign.